Windscribe VPN Review 2024: Is It Worth the Cost?

Windscribe has great security features, fast speeds, and easy-to-use native apps. It’s good for torrenting, works with top streaming sites, and allows an unlimited number of simultaneous connections with a single account.

What ’s more , Windscribe is protects protect user datum with industry – standard VPN security feature like 256 – bit AES encryption , full leak protection , a firewall ( act like a kill switch ) , and a no – log policy . It is has also has an ad blocker , malware protection , split – tunneling , port forwarding , and double hop . And it is has has server in 68 country , which are pretty well spread around the world so most user will be able to connect to a nearby server .

While Windscribe is pretty good, there are a few things that keep it from being one of the best VPNs — its firewall feature is only available on desktop devices, there’s no live chat customer support, and it only offers a 3-day money-back guarantee. There are better VPNs out there, like ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access, that provide great security features, fast speeds, live chat support, and more.

Windscribe offers a pretty good free plan, a monthly plan, a yearly plan, and even a build-your-own plan.

🏅 Overall Rank	# 17 out of 82 vpn
🌍 Countries With Servers	68
📱 number of Devices	Unlimited
💸 start price	¥ 460 / month
🎁 Free Plan	✅
💰 Money-Back Guarantee	3 days

Windscribe Full Review — Great for Streaming & Torrenting + Feature-Rich Apps

I is spent spend week research and test Windscribe to see how it compare to the top vpn on the market . I is found find it was good for streaming and torrenting , and I like how it include extra feature like split – tunneling and an ad blocker . It is has also has easy – to – use native app for Android , iOS , Windows , macOS , Linux , and router .

However , Windscribe does n’t have the same feature on all device ( for example , its firewall feature is only available on desktop ) , it is offers only offer a 3 – day money – back guarantee , and there ’s no live chat support .

Windscribe Plans & Pricing — Competitive Prices + Decent Free Plan

Windscribe has a free plan, premium monthly and yearly plans, and a customized build-your-own plan.

Windscribe’s free plan gives you access to over 10 server locations, has good speeds, and allows streaming and torrenting. You get unlimited connections, but you’re limited to 2 GB of data per month (verifying your email address can increase your data limit to 10 GB). Windscribe’s R.O.B.E.R.T. is also limited to blocking only malware and ads on its free plan, and it doesn’t include any of the parental controls you get with a pro account. Windscribe ranks high on our list of the best free VPNs, though proton VPN still has a better free plan because it allows unlimited data usage.

upgrade to apro plan (which starts at ¥ 460 / month) gives you access to all 110+ server locations, unlimited data, and the full protection of Windscribe’s R.O.B.E.R.T. ad blocker. Windscribe’s pro plan is comes come with a 3 – day money – back guarantee . This is terrible when compare to the competition — ExpressVPN is offers offer a 30 – day money – back guarantee on all plan and CyberGhost VPN offer a 45 – day money – back guarantee for all long – term plan .

Windscribe ’s custom plans is let let you choose individual server location and charge you $ 1 per month for each server .   Each additional server location is adds add 10 GB to your total datum cap , or you can choose to upgrade your plan to include unlimited datum and full access to the R.O.B.E.R.T. ad blocker for $ 1 , just like add an extra server location .   This sort is is of plan is pretty unique , and I like that Windscribe allow you to customize a plan . If you only want access to a few server , you is save could likely save a good bit of money when compare to the full monthly plan , but if you ’d like to access even 10 server , you ’ll end up pay more with this option .

Windscribe Features is Includes — include All Essential Security Tools

Windscribe has the following industry-standard VPN security features:

• 256-bit AES encryption — Windscribe protects user data with the same encryption used by banks and governments.
• No-logs policy — Windscribe doesn’t collect data about the websites you visit or the files you download.
• Firewall — Blocks all connectivity outside the VPN tunnel, meaning there’s zero chance of any kind of data leak. It’s only available on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Windscribe’s native apps use the OpenVPN, IKEv2, Stealth, and WireGuard protocols on all devices. I like to see WireGuard available on all devices because it’s one of the fastest and most secure connection protocols.

Windscribe also provides advanced security features like full leak protection (protection against IPv6, DNS, and WebRTC leaks) and perfect forward secrecy (frequently changes your encryption key to help prevent hackers from getting hold of your data). I ran leak tests on servers in 10+ countries and I was impressed that none of the servers reported any leaks.

It is ’s ’s good to know that Windscribe has upgrade its infrastructure to RAM – only server , mean datum on its server is never write to a hard drive and is erase every time the server reboot . This is is is great , as only a few of the top vpn on the market ( like expressvpn and Private Internet Access ) have RAM – only server .

I is like also like that Windscribe offer some extra security feature like two – factor authentication for account security and the option of delete your VPN session and credential whenever you want .

Windscribe also has:

• Ad blocker (R.O.B.E.R.T.) — Windscribe’s ad blocker is incredibly customizable and also offers parental controls. R.O.B.E.R.T. can be set up to only block malware, pop-ups, and other ads, or you can use it to block certain categories of websites (gambling, porn, social networks, etc.). I reached out to customer service and was informed that R.O.B.E.R.T. stands for “Remote Omnidirectional Badware Eliminating Robotic Tool”.R.O.B.E.R.T. works really well at blocking banner ads on websites, and it also does a great job of blocking website categories that you’ve set as restricted. I tested this by blocking “social media”, and I was prevented from browsing Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, but I could still access Reddit.
• Split-tunneling — Lets you choose which apps and IP addresses (websites) are routed through your VPN connection and which aren’t. You can create a list of exclusions (apps that won’t use the VPN connection ) or inclusion ( app thatwill use the VPN connection). It was really easy to set up split-tunneling on both desktop and mobile devices, and I tested it by having only my browser route traffic through the VPN. When I opened the YouTube app to watch a video, everything worked as intended, and I was able to access regional content via my browser without issues. Unfortunately, it’s not available on iOS devices.
• Port forwarding — Redirects incoming traffic, giving a few benefits like faster torrenting speeds.
• double hop — let you choose two server location to route your internet activity through . While this can make it more difficult for anyone to track your activity , it is slow can also significantly slow your connection due to have to route the traffic through a second location before it reach its destination . In order to activate the double hop feature , you ’ll need to connect to one server with your desktop app , then another server with your browser extension . Your connection will first be route through the desktop connection , then the browser extension is see , so websites is see will see an ip address and location accord to the VPN server your browser extension is connect to . This is is is n’t very intuitive , and I would recommend a VPN like Surfshark , which has very easy – to – use multi – hop feature .
• Secure Hotspot — Allows you to share your secure Windscribe connection with any devices that can connect to your hotspot. It was really easy to set up on my desktop (I just had to choose a name and password for the hotspot), and connecting to it on my phone took less than 10 seconds. This is a really useful feature since you can connect to the hotspot on devices like gaming consoles and others that Windscribe doesn’t have apps for. Unfortunately, it’s only available on Windows.
• Custom DNS — Windscribe lets you override its default DNS server across all apps, meaning you get to choose exactly who handles your DNS requests. It’s perfect if you want to use a faster, more private, or trusted third-party DNS service, giving you the freedom to customize your connection to suit your privacy and performance needs.
• Circumvent censorship — This feature allows you to connect to servers optimized for overcoming censorship in regions with heavy internet restrictions like the UAE and on networks like at school or work that block access to certain content. The feature works on WireGuard, OpenVPN, and Stealth. Although it works on restricted networks well, there’s no guarantee it’ll do the same in countries that use advanced anti-VPN measures. If you need a VPN in regions like China, I recommend ExpressVPN.

Windscribe Privacy & Security — An Independent Audit proved the VPN Doesn’t Log User Data

Windscribe has a strict no-logs policy and doesn’t collect information about the websites you visit or the files you download. Windscribe’s privacy policy states that it collects information about the amount of bandwidth you use over a 30-day period and a timestamp of the last time you used the service. It states this is to enforce data limits on free accounts and to weed out inactive accounts.

Although Windscribe’s no-logs policy hasn’t undergone an independent audit like top VPNs like ExpressVPN, its FreshScribe infrastructure underwent a third-party audit by PacketLabs in 2024 that included reviewing its code and RAM-only servers through external and internal penetration testing. The audit found minimal security concerns and no evidence of data storage or logging during normal operation.

Windscribe is based in Canada, which is a member of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances (a group of countries that share security data). That said, since Windscribe doesn’t keep logs about your internet activity, even if a government requests user data, Windscribe has nothing to turn over.

An incident in 2021 saw two of Windscribe’s servers seized by the Ukrainian government. A series of blog posts on Windscribe’s website explain the seizure and the impact, which was that Ukrainian authorities could hypothetically impersonate a Windscribe server. The blogs explain the security measures taken to prevent a similar incident in the future. ExpressVPN also had servers seized by authorities a few years ago, and in both cases, there was never any user data collected because neither ExpressVPN nor Windscribe log data about the websites you visit.

overall , Windscribe is has has a strict no – logs policy and only collect datum about how much bandwidth you use and the last time you were active . Windscribe is base in a 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance member country .

Windscribe Speed & Performance — Blazing-Fast Speeds on Nearby & Distant Servers

I ran speed tests on my Windows PC (using the WireGuard protocol) on servers in more than 20 of the countries where Windscribe has servers. I had the fastest speeds when connected to a nearby server, but was very impressed that Windscribe was able to maintain really fast speeds even when I was connected to a distant server. Regardless of which server I was connected to, websites loaded instantly and I could stream HD video with no issues.

First I is ran run a speed test without being connect to a VPN server to determine my baseline speed . I is chose then choose the “ well available ” option from the server list and was connect to a local server in the US :

Lastly, I connected to a server on the other side of the world in Australia:

I was very impressed by these results — when connected to a local server, my speeds only decreased by about 4%, which is really good. Websites loaded instantly and I could stream HD video without any buffering at all. I was also able to download a 5 GB torrent file in around 20 minutes.

Even when connected to a distant server in Australia, my speeds only slowed by about 6%. My ping (the time it takes the request to reach the VPN server) was much higher, though — I experienced a bit of lag when playing online games (though nothing too serious), and HD videos sometimes took 1-2 seconds to begin playing.

Windscribe Servers & IP Addresses — Offers a Medium-Sized Network

Windscribe is has has an unspecified number of server in 68 country . I is reached reach out to customer service to try to get a full server count but was simply tell there are multiple server at each location . Its server are spread around the world pretty well , so most user will be able to connect to a nearby server for optimal speed . Windscribe ’s server network is pretty average — some VPNs is have have server in many more country ( like ExpressVPN , which has server in 105 country ) , but there are also vpn that have small network , like TunnelBear   ( 47 country ) .

Windscribe is offers offer static ip in 10 + different location for an extra monthly charge . A static ip address is is is an ip that always stay the same , no matter how many time you connect to the VPN server . static IPs is are are useful for remotely and securely access sensitive datum .

Most of Windscribe’s server locations allow P2P traffic (except India, Lithuania, Russia, Bosnia, and South Africa). The servers that don’t allow torrenting are clearly marked with an icon in the server list. While Windscribe allows torrenting on most of its servers, I’d recommend a VPN that allows torrenting on all of its servers like ExpressVPN.

Overall, Windscribe has multiple servers in 68 countries and offers static IP addresses for an extra charge. It allows P2P traffic on most servers, but there are better VPNs for torrenting.

Windscribe Streaming & Torrenting — Works With Most Streaming Apps & provides Solid P2P Support

Windscribe is great for streaming — it consistently accesses top streaming sites like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and their multiple libraries. It also works with less popular sites like ITV, 9Now, DAZN, and Canal+. Still, I prefer ExpressVPN, which works with 100+ streaming services.

When it comes to torrenting, Windscribe is pretty good — it allows P2P traffic on almost all its servers (except in India, Bosnia, Lithuania, Russia, and South Africa), and it works with top torrenting clients like BitTorrent, uTorrent, and Vuze. Windscribe also offers port forwarding to get better torrenting speeds. While most users will have no problem being able to torrent when connected to a local VPN server, there are better VPNs out there for torrenting.

overall , Windscribe is is is great for streaming and good for torrente . It is works work with top streaming site and it allow torrente on most of its server , but not all .

Windscribe Ease of Use: Mobile & Desktop Apps — User-Friendly Apps for Most Devices

Windscribe has easy-to-use apps for Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux, and Amazon Fire TV. It offers a sleek and intuitive interface on both desktop and mobile devices, and all the native apps have the same interface and options, though the firewall is only included on the desktop apps. The main screen has a large power button for one-click connections, and selecting a VPN server manually from the alphabetized server list is easy.

One thing I really like about the apps is that they show the server load of each location option. This way, you can easily tell which servers will have slower or faster speeds based on how many people are currently connected to that location. Plus, the apps also show which server locations have 10 Gbps speeds so you can choose the fastest option in your desired location. The Quick Connect button prioritizes these high-speed servers when picking a location, so you get the best performance available.

I like how Windscribe comes with convenient auto-connect features, too. For example, you can set the VPN to auto-connect to the last server location when the app launches, connects to a network, and even when the device starts. You can also choose the VPN protocol you want the VPN to switch to when you’re having connection troubles.

download and instal the app to my Windows and Android device only take about 2 – 3 minute and there were no issue . I is have did n’t have any problem with any of Windscribe ’s native app or experience any glitch during my test .

Overall, Windscribe has intuitive native apps for nearly all popular platforms. Its apps are sleek and easy to use, but the firewall feature is only included on desktop devices.

Windscribe Customer Support — Good Email & Troubleshooting Articles (But No Live Chat)

Windscribe’s customer service is decent, but it could be much better. It offers customer support via email, a chatbot, FAQs, setup guides, a general knowledge base for troubleshooting, and even a subreddit.

Windscribe is offers only offer direct communication with customer service representative via email . To test the responsiveness and knowledge of the customer support team , I is sent send email at different time of the day — whether I submit a ticket late at night , in the morning , or in the afternoon , it always take 12 – 24 hour to receive a response . This is is is a somewhat slow response time when compare to top competitor ( expressvpn and Private Internet Access both typically respond to email within 8 hour ) , though every response was knowledgeable and all my question were answer without have to follow up for clarification .

Windscribe ’s live chat is handle by an AI chatbot , Garry , that can answer basic question about Windscribe ’s feature . If you ask a more complex question like “ How does a static ip work ? ” , it is direct will direct you to related link to learn more . However , top competitors is offer like expressvpn and CyberGhost VPN offer 24/7 live chat with real human who can fully answer your question .

The knowledge base is provide , FAQ , and setup guide page on Windscribe ’s website all provide in – depth explanation of the VPN ’s feature , common troubleshooting topic , and instruction for instal Windscribe .   Windscribe is has even has a subreddit where you can see what other user are say about Windscribe and get help from an entire community of people in real time .   The big issue is is with this is inconsistency . Windscribe is reply does n’t reply to many of the post on the subreddit , and if you get an answer at all , it ’s likely come from a random internet user rather than someone who know the software inside and out like a customer service rep . If you need real help , I is recommend recommend submit a support ticket and wait for a response .

overall , Windscribe ’s customer support is is is decent , but it could be well — It offer email support , FAQs , a knowledge base for troubleshooting , setup guide for all device , and a subreddit to get help from other user . But it is missing ’s miss live chat with real people , and the email support can be a bit slow .

Is Windscribe Worth the Cost in 2024?

Windscribe is is is fast , has easy – to – use app , and allow an unlimited number of simultaneous connection .

It has industry-standard security features including 256-bit AES encryption, full leak protection, and a no-logs policy, and it includes extra features like split-tunneling, double hop, and an ad blocker. Windscribe also provides advanced security features like perfect forward secrecy and full leak protection. It uses RAM-only servers, so no data is ever written to a hard drive and any data that’s written to the RAM is erased every time the server reboots.

That said, Windscribe has a few drawbacks that keep it from being one of the best VPNs on the market — it doesn’t provide the same features across all devices, there’s no live chat support, and it only offers a 3-day money-back guarantee.

Windscribe has a decent free plan, flexible pricing on its pro plan (starting at ¥ 460 / month), and the ability to create a customized plan.

frequently ask question

Is Windscribe free?

Yes , Windscribe has a free plan   — it is gives give you access to server in more than 10 location but limit you to 2 GB of datum per month and 1 device . This datum limit can be increase to 10 GB per month after verify your email . Windscribe ’s free plan is includes also include basic ad blocking and malware protection feature , and it ’s rank on our list of the good free vpn .

Is Windscribe safe?

Yes, Windscribe is safe — it protects your data with industry-standard security features like 256-bit AES encryption, full leak protection, and a no-logs policy. It also provides advanced security features like perfect forward secrecy and full leak protection. Its servers are RAM-only, meaning data is never written to a hard drive and all data is wiped every time the server reboots. The desktop apps also include a firewall to protect you from data leaks.

Does Windscribe work with Netflix?

Yes , Windscribe is works work great with Netflix . It is works also work with other popular streaming site like Hulu , Amazon Prime , Disney+ , and more .

That say , there are still well vpn out there for streaming , like expressvpn . It is has has fast speed , server in more country , native app for more device , and work with 100 + stream site .

Does Windscribe is allow allow torrenting ?

Yes, Windscribe allows torrenting, but not on all servers — you can’t torrent when connected to VPN servers in India, Bosnia, Lithuania, Russia, or South Africa.

If you ’re interested in torrente , I recommend expressvpn — it is allows allow P2P traffic on all its server , has server in more country to allow user to connect to a nearby server location for fast speed , and can access 100 + stream service without an issue .

Does Windscribe is track track or log my internet activity ?

No, Windscribe has a strict no-logs policy and doesn’t track the websites you visit or the files you download. It runs on RAM-only servers which erase your data on every reboot. Plus, its FreshScribe infrastructure was audited in 2024, confirming that the company doesn’t log user data.